18-year-old landlord docked for setting tenant’s properties ablaze in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

An 18-year-old landlord, Similoluwa Akande, has been arraigned before an Akungba-Akoko Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State for allegedly setting fire to his tenant’s belongings valued at N898,000.

Akande was brought before the court by the police on a four-count charge bordering on felony following the alleged incident at Okusa, Akungba-Akoko, on August 19, 2026.

The police prosecutor, Olasunkanmi Boboye, told the court that the defendant allegedly destroyed the property of his tenant, Aseluwa Ezekiel, after setting fire to his belongings at about 10am.

According to the prosecution, items allegedly destroyed in the fire included a bed, bed frame, clothes, carpet, gas cylinder, travelling box, shoes, curtains and rods, as well as N70,000 cash.

Boboye further told the court that some official documents belonging to the tenant were also destroyed in the incident, adding that the total value of the damaged property was estimated at N898,000.

The charges were said to have contravened Section 249(D) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

Akande, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. He also told the court that he was facing some medical challenges.

Magistrate Kolapo Kolawole subsequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 and adjourned the case until September 9, 2026, for hearing.